BILLINGS — Yellowstone County prosecutors have decided not to bring charges against a Billings man who shot and killed a drug dealer.

Prosecutors concluded a jury was likely to believe Nicholas Frandsen's claim that he was acting in self-defense when he shot Shawn Allread in October 2015, in part because Allread had sent threatening text messages and showed up at Frandsen's apartment in the middle of the night with a loaded gun.

Frandsen told investigators he mentioned buying cocaine from Allread, but said he didn't have the money. Frandsen said Allread insisted he complete the $275 purchase and had pointed a gun at him three days before the shooting.

Prosecutors notified police in October 2017 that they weren't going to prosecute Frandsen. KTVQ-TV first obtained the letter outlining the decision.